Engine - clutch - transmission assembly - 1962 single clutch

[Richard981]

Hi everyone,
I was restoring a 1962 Dexta for my son. It is fitted with a single clutch and th engine was rebuilt several years back. I was hoping to assemble it and bring it back to life.
* I decided to remove flywheel and it is away getting resurfaced. I have the pressure plate and clutch ready to fit when I get it back.
* I don't have the original 6 bolts and washers for the pressure plate. Would anyone know the specification for them? I have came across several conflicting specs online. I was also minded to use some medium Loctite.
* I was going to use 2 sockets on a threaded bar to make my own clutch alignment tool. I recall reading somewhere that it was recommended to remove transmission shaft and use it to align clutch. Any advice on this would be much appreciated. I like this option as it would enable me to change the original oil seal for the transmission shaft.
* My aim is to get the engine connected to the transmission and leave it maintenance free for a long time. I should add that a release bearing also came with the clutch kit.

Any tips on completing this stage of the assembly would be greatly appreciated. I managed to come across a pdf copy of the original parts numbers. However, when it comes to bolts etc, the original part numbers aren't used by suppliers. Also, could anyone recommend a high melting point grease to use on the pilot bearing.

Your assistance is gratefully appreciated.

Regards
Richard

[Billy26F5]

Pitty you don't have those bolts, a scrappy would be the best place to find them as they're not normal bolts. They're the same on many Major's, part no. 350433-S, 5/16"-18 x 25/32" special shoulder hex head bolt. You also need 5/16" spring washers (34806-S). Not a fan of Loctite myself, but some people have used it on other parts with suitable success. I always recommend using the input shaft as it will always line up like that, but if you think you can make yourself a version of T.7079 then why not. Removing the input shaft on a Dexta is a big job as you need to split the bell housing from the gearbox, probably better to get a spare shaft from a scrappy if you decide to go that way. Renewing the input shaft seal is however easy, especially as you already have the retainer exposed. Well worth doing. What pilot bearing do you have? the bronze one was considered very good but can't be used if it's been removed, the ball one is a normal replacement, and well worth doing if that's what you have. Any high temperature grease will do, just make sure it's suitable quality (can't really help there) and that the bearings and input shaft splines are well coated.
The parts books do have a section at the end with the various "standard parts", not all of them have it but it's a good read. There's a Dexta one elsewhere with that section (unfortunately not complete) and on the FFCN a Major one with the full section.
Sandy

[Richard981]

Hi Sandy,
Thank you for your informative post. The original pilot bearing in the flywheel definately need replaced. I have a replacement one that came with the clutch kit. It is in a package marked: QTP 828123. I would be keen to replace the oil seal but have decided not to remove the transmission shaft. I will try a few local places for the 6 bolts and washers for the pressure plate. It is very helpful to have the exact specification. I was using Microsoft Copilot (AI) to search a few specs for me. However, it is prone to delivering slightly different results.

I was wondering if changing the oil seal requires the cross shaft to be removed?

Many thanks,
Richard

[Billy26F5]

You will need to remove the cross shaft to get the retainer out, but no need to remove the input shaft in order to replace the seal. You're much better to try and find old parts books and manuals, there's a lot in them. If in doubt just post, someone on here is bound to know most things. There are lots of good old posts too.
Sandy

[Richard981]

Managed to get release spring off end of fork. There's a lot of torsion in the spring! I have resourced several pdfs online and the information and diagrams are very useful. I anticipate that the release spring will be extremely difficult to get back into its correct position. It needs to be rotated through half a turn from its rest position. I washed down the inside of the housing with some diesel oil. There was a layer of dried black oil and gunge.

Regards
Richard

[Billy26F5]

It is a tough spring, bare in mind it's all you have to hold the pedal up. The dirt in there will be clutch dust, similar to brake dust. Well worth getting out of there. You could make yourself a suitable tool to refit it if you think it'll help, just a thought.
Sandy

[Richard981]

Thank you for all the helpful advice. Have flywheel resurfaced and put back on. Fitted new pilot bearing and packed recess with some Castrol high melting point grease.

Original Fordson Dexta manual states that single clutch is 11" in diameter. The Dexta kit that I was supplied with comes with 9" diameter clutch plate. Mabye this is standard issue now? I measured the diameter of the new pressure plate as just over 11" in diameter.

Regards
Richard

[Billy26F5]

Looks like they've done it again. The single clutch is 11", it's the live clutch that's 9". You'll need to check your order, they should have the correct plate. Just another chapter in the story of aftermarket mistakes. Beware you're not sent a Major one, only the disc and rivets are the same, the linings and hub are different, still measuring 11".
Sandy

[Richard981]

Thank you for confirming that. The single clutch kit was bought locally so I will be able to exchange it. The box is marked:
Quality Tractor Parts - 3775 Clutch Disc Dexta/Super Dexta 9" Main Drive 1" x 15 Splines Main Drive.

I have managed to source manuals online and can check specifications. Also managed to get the loan of an old transmission shaft so it will be useful for clutch alignment.

Richard

[Billy26F5]

Just looked it up, the correct one has the QTP no. 1153 (957E-7550A), the Major one is 4911 (E1ADKN-7550A). The Dexta input shaft is smaller and 15 splines.
Sandy

[Richard981]

Thank you for your reply. The pressure plate is QTP 4910 and aligns up to 6 bolt holes in the flywheel. Fairly sure that it will work. On the QTP website, the 4910 pressure plate shows 2 compatible clutch plates. Both are for a Major and I think they both have 10 splines instead of 15. This probably confused the person that soldthe clutch kit to me. Although he sells parts, he isn't very knowledgeable about any technical nuances.

Richard

[Billy26F5]

I'm afraid there's a big mistake with the QTP website. Not anything you can do about it but just for information. The cover & pressure plate assy. is E1ADKN-7563A and E1ADDN-7563B for Major's, and 957E-7563 and 957E-7563B for Dexta's. There's also others for industrials and lorries. Although the covers are the same (51-7570) the pressure plates and springs are not, the levers and adjusting screws are I think the same. Just to show that look alike doesn't mean the same.
Sandy

[Billy26F5]

Sorry, messed up there, the heavy duty version for Major's doesn't use a different cover & pressure plate assy. (but it does have longer fixing bolts and spacers E1ADKN-77596 to compensate for the thicker linings). The B suffix parts came in in August 59 (Power Major no. 1524750, I think the Dexta might only be covered in a service letter, I would guess around 957E-37000), the internal linkages are different and it's probably these later parts that are currently being made.
Sandy

[Richard981]

Thank you for this important information. I think I need to return the pressure plate assembly. The only thing that I have used from the kit is the pilot bearing and it fits fine. I tried it on the transmission shaft before I fitted it.

Richard

[Billy26F5]

What's the original one like? They rarely are in trouble, so good decision in my mind. Did you have the bronze type pilot bearing? They were considered to be very good but unfortunately not reusable once removed.
Sandy

[Richard981]

Unfortunately I don't have the original pressure plate and assembly. I replaced the pilot bearing as the original one was well worn. It wasn't a brass type. I rang the local supplier and he is willing to order me the correct parts. However, I will need to make sure he orders the correct parts as he doesn't really have any knowledge of what is required. I was very clear in asking him to order me a single clutch kit for an ordinary Dexta.

I looked at the QTP online catalogue:
QTP 1153 clutch plate that you mention looks correct. It is 11" and has the 15 splines. It is listed as Clutch disc Ford 2000 3000 15 splines 112 organic.
Also I'm fairly confident that the QTP 4910 is the correct cover plate and pressure plate. The website makes reference to 957E-7563B. I can't see any other possible options on the QTP online catalogue. Do you agree with the QTP 4910? If this is correct, I will only need to exchange the clutch plate.

I had the flywheel on with the original locking tabs. However, one of the tabs broke off so I decided to order 3 new ones. It only took a few minutes to change them as I had access to an impact gun. Great piece of kit for taking off flywheel bolts.

Richard

[Billy26F5]

Sounds like a good plan. Don't assume that a part number described is correct, modern camshafts for Major's are mixed between E1ADDN-6250D and 528E-6250D, but they're actually the lorry type, with risk of damage to push rods if used on Power Major's or later. Having said all that, If it works on a Major I don't see why it shouldn't on a Dexta as it will fit both, it will work much harder in a Major. I just like to give full details of what Ford originally fitted so anyone opting for being totally original knows about what was used when and where.
Sandy

[Richard981]

Finally managed to get correct 11" clutch plate. The clutch was not specified as a heavy duty type. The Dexta manual refers to the use of spacers for a heavy duty type clutch. When I fitted the pressure plate and clutch assembly there was a noticeable space (4mm) between the pressure plate housing and the flywheel. I didn't want to tighen the cover plate onto the flywheel until I establish if I need spacers.

Richard

[Billy26F5]

There will be space as you need to compress the springs. This won't be a heavy duty type, and as far as I know it was only fitted to Major's anyway. It's not in the Ford manual for the Dexta.
Dexta clutch springs were blue (violet is for live clutches), Major ones orange (red is for live clutches, green and yellow is for 13" clutches, grey for lorries).
Sandy

[Richard981]

I went ahead and torqued the pressure plate assembly to the flywheel. I took a look at the springs but can't see any colour coding on them. I'm not so sure about the QTP 4910 pressure plate assembly. The springs are under a lot of compression and it requires a very large force to move one of the fingers by a small amount.

Richard

[Billy26F5]

It will, bare in mind that you need to get 44.5 hp through that (NP Super Dexta, 53.7 hp on NP Super Major's) so it will be tight. As it's made for Major's, the pedal effort will probably be higher than a true Dexta one, but shouldn't really be too bad to live with. The specs say that the Dexta clutch is under 14 psi, that means you need to exert 1624 lbs on the springs to release it.
Sandy

[Richard981]

Thank you for this valuable information. I decided to keep going and hope that everything works as intended. I have the oil seal on the transmission shaft fitted, new gasket made and the cross shaft mechanism back in. The torsion spring was quite easy to get back into position. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of the old release bearing on the carrier. The manual says to keep the thrust face outwards. I think this would be the completely flat face (Sparex S65334 release bearing). This makes sense but I just wanted to be 100% sure. The release bearing appears to be a tight fit for the carrier. If I slid it on with the machine face inwards it slides on very easily. Tried for some time to see if I could locate a photo online showing the release bearing on the carrier. Couldn't locate any.

Richard

[Billy26F5]

The flat face is indeed the thrust face, the bearing is a press fit on the hub (or should be).
Sandy

[Richard981]

Thank you for your confirmation. Engine now connected to transmission. Hope I don't have to split it again. Started work on the front axle. Going to order up kits to renew all the bushes, bearings etc. The main axle bush was worn through and there is a bit of wear on the axle. A local engineering works is going to ream it for me and insert a bush that will accommodate the normal bush. I have both front spindles out and I was planning to use them again. However, I was strongly advised to go for new ones. It's hard to gauge the wear on the old spindles as the diameter is not uniform along the length. Any advice would be appreciated. Looking forward to having the front axle fitted so that I can finally move the tractor without using a trolley jacks or engine hoist.

Not sure if there is much difference in the spindle makes. Most suppliers appear to be using Sparex parts.

Richard

[Billy26F5]

Not too sure about Dexta's but on Major's I would definitely say to repair the original ones as there are lots of mistakes. Spindles can be fixed, a few have filled them up with weld and re machine it successfully. We didn't but wish we had. Might be expensive too. Really depends on condition, diameters should be consistent in the bearing surfaces for the bushes (which are different sizes).
Sandy